Folding game table



March 14, 1933. E. A. CLARK FOLDING GAME TABLE 1931 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 16,

INVENTOR.

ym- ATTORNEY.

March 14, 1933. E. A. CLARK' FOLDING GAME TABLE Filed June 16, 1931 3 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR. WM fl%% BY ATTORNEX- March 14, 1933; E. A. CLARK FOLDING GAME TABLE Filed June 16, 1931 3'Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

P atented Mar. 14, 19 33 UNITED 5 EDWARD A. CLARK, OF SALINE, IvIICHIGrAN FOLDING- GAME TABLE Application filed. June 18,

The object of my invention is to produce a table structure that is adapted for games, and that may be readily folded up into a comparatively small space when not in use.

Another object is to produce a folding game table that may be readily assembled into a strong, rigid structure and without applying exterior attaching means.

A further object is to produce a folding game table whereby the leg sections may be inverted and readily folded within the table top recess, requiring no added space when the leg sections are folded therein.

A still further object is to produce a special leg section joint adapted to various table designs where folding legs are desirable.

Another object is to produce a folding game table that is simple in construction, easily and efficiently operated and can be manufactured at a very low cost.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth.

' Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the assembled game table in its opened position ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the assembled table as shown in Fig. 1 showing the relative position of the leg sections to the game table side bars.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the leg attaching means as mounted on the table side bar.

Fig. 1 is a side view of one of the leg sections showing the pin attaching means mounted thereon for engaging the socket attaching means mounted at the table side bar ends.

Fig. 5 is an alternate side view of the same leg section showing a double headed pin attaching means for forming a more rigid structure as may be required on large game tables.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of the F ig. 2 showing the leg sections in their locked positions when completely assembled."

Fig. 7 is also a sectional view taken on the 1931. Serial No. 544,780.

same line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the leg sections depressed beneath the table top edge and in position to be turned outwardly on one pair of supporting pivots when it is desired to fold the leg sections into the table top.

Fig. 8 is also a sectional view taken on the same section line 66 of Fig. 2 showing the direction in which the leg sections are turned for folding within the table top.

Fig. 9 is another sectional view taken on the same section line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the leg sections folded within the game table top recess, ready for storing away.

Fig. 10 is an alternate form of attaching plate showing the lower turning slot recess leading to the inner side of the plate, designed for allowing the connected table legs to swing beneath the table top, instead of on top as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a modified alternate form of attaching plate with the lower section removed, and with the edge curved to allow the attachedleg to swing in either direction.

Fig. 12 is a modified form of attaching plate shown in Fig. 3, operating the same but of a simplified construction.

Fig. 13 is a simplified form of the attaching plate shown in Fig. 10, the two vertical slots being combined into one recess slot, also designed for turning the attached legs beneath the table top.

Fig. 1 1 is an alternate form of attaching means where the connections are inverted and the attaching plate is placed on the table leg section instead of on the table side bar, and with the attaching pins mounted on the table top supports.

Fig. 15 is a side view of one of the table leg tops where the slotted recess attaching means are formed directly on the leg memg her and cut therein, the mounting and operation is exactly the same as in the design shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 shows an alternate form of table top where'the folding legs are mounted separately therein, one leg being attached at each table corner, but mounted therein between the same type of pairs of attaching plates.

While I have illustrated my invention as applied to a particular basket ball parlor game, it is to be understood that the game per se is purely illustrative of the application of my invention, and that the game table may be applied to any parlor game equally as well.

I will now describe more fully the detail construction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

In general, my device comprises a game table top formed with'upwardly projected side bars extended beyond the table top edged at both ends thereof. On the inner faces of the extended bar ends are fixedly mounted metal attaching plates, each formed with special attaching socket recesses. lVithin each pair of extended bar ends is mounted a double leg section provided with attaching pins projected from the outside leg walls, suitable for engaging the attaching plate socket recesses of the side bar attaching plates, and operates therein in a manner for locking the leg sections in a rigid position for forming a solid table structure, or may be easily disengaged so that the leg section may be readily folded over and into the table top recess.

To more clearly set forth my invention, I have illustrated the game table as applied to a miniature basket ball game as is more specifically set forth in one of my former patents No 1,608,721 issued Nov. 30, 1926, the game requiring a fiat table top 1 formed with a series of holes -2 therethroughrepresenting positions of the various basket ball players in the regular athletic basket ball game now commonly known and played. The baskets are imitated by the end rings -3 fixedly attached to the table end bars -5. A small rubber ball' is placed in one of the holes 2 and shotin the air toward the desired basket by impinging the ball with the finger through the, hole beneath the table top board. This game like many others, requires a guard rail, or the side and end bars tand 5 around the table top for preventing the playing ball from rolling therefrom.

The table top -1 may be made of any suitable material, preferably of a three ply wood construction to insure against warping, and with a surface design suitable for the game with which it is to be used. Beneath the board -1, positioned crosswise thereof, are fixedly attached cross-bars 6, placed parallel to each other at uniform intervals along the board, and having the bar ends projected beyond the board edges. Along the opposite sides of the board -lare mounted the side bars L fixedly attached to the projected cross bar ends, preferably by suitable screws placed therethrough, said side bars being positioned at right angles to the top board surface andprojected abovethe top thereof, the side bar ends also being projected' beyond the table top edges at both ends thereof, the combined parts forming a rigid frame structure. On the inside faces a of the side bars -l at the projected ends thereof, are mounted thin, metal attaching plates 7, preferably formed U-shaped clamp edges for extending over the bar edges and more securely clamping the plate thereto, said plates being fixedly attached to the bars by suitable screws 8. The attaching plates 7 are preferably designed with a circular recess socket -bformed with a connected elongated side slotc posi- 'tioned near the upper and inner edges of the plate, the connected side slot 0 being positioned on the outside edge of the circular recess --band extended vertically above. Directly beneath the side slot c, near the bottom edge of the attaching plate 7, is formed a secondary locking slot (Z-, preferably of the same width as the slot -c positioned parallel thereto and extended downwardly to near the bottom edge of the attaching plate, the lower end of slot (Z being connected with a circular recess slot eformed with its center at the center of the circular recess b, the slot cbe ing extended to the ouside edge of the plate and opening therethrough. The ends of the side bars -4: are slightly recessed directly beneath the attaching plate recess opening to allow clearance for the connecting pins as are entered therein.

Between the pairs of end attaching plates 7, at each end of the table top 1, are mounted double leg sections 9-, said leg sections are preferably formed of special. angle iron legs f, although squared Wood legs may also be used if desired, and are rigidly joined together at the tops by the end bar -5- securely attached thereto by either screws or edge clips g, or by both if desired, or any other suitable means may be used, the end bar 5 being positioned flush with the leg top. Along the outside faces -hof the double leg sections are mounted suitable attaching pins 10 and l1, positioned in vertical alignment with each other and correspondingly spaced with the attaching recesses c'- and dof the plates 7, so that when engaged therewith the pins 10 and 11- will engage the respective recess upper'ends and position the connected end bars 5 flush with the tops of the adjoining side bars -l, forming a continuous guard rail around the entire top board edge. The upper pins 10- are formed with thin, fiat heads 7c, of a diameter to allow same to pass through the circular recess -Z) in the plates 7 and with the pin body of. a size to engage and fill the connected side'slot 0--, yet free to slide therein. T he lower pins 11 may be made of a straight pin body of a diameter to fill'the connected slots"d and -'c as shown in the Fig. 4, or with a thin, flat head section -mas shown in the Fig. 5, the pin body being the same in either case, the head m providing a greater rigidity in the joint.

By assembling the table top 1 and side bars l with the double leg sections 9- between the respective pairs of attaching plates 7, and with the attaching pins 10 inserted within the circular recesses b of the plates, said leg sections 9 may then be pivoted to various positions about the supporting pins 10, and when brought to a vertical position at right angles to the table top l, directly therebeneath, the pins 10 and ll will engage the respective attaching plate slots --(Z and eand slide vertically therein with the end bars 5- flush with the side bars 4L, locking the leg sections securely with the table top frame, forming a rigid table structure as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, but upon raising the table top -1 and depressing the leg sections -9 downward along the attaching plate slots 0- and (Z- as indicated in the Fig. 7 of the drawings, the leg sections 9 may be readily turned outwardly as shown in Fig. 8, the pins ll passing along and out of the circular recess e, allowing the leg sections to be rotated in the direction as indicated by the arrows, and to a position over the table top and folded within the table top recess as shown in Fig. 9.

For specifically constructed tables, such as are used for card tables, &c, where the top board 1 is flush with the side and end bar tops, it is desirable to have the leg sections 9 folded beneath the top instead above the top board as previously described, and which may be readily accomplished by forming the circular recess e on the inner edge of the attaching plate 7- as shown in the alternate sketches 10, 11-, and -13-. The operation of the folding legs are the same as in the former case and as heretofore described. The Fig. llillustrates a special type of attaching plate where the circular slot e is omitted altogether and will allow the leg section to be turned in either direction desired.

When desired the attaching plates 7 may be attached to the leg section 9 and the attaching pins 10 and ll mounted on the side bars l, by inverting the position of the slotted recesses -c and cZ to be extended downward instead of upward as in the former case, and as shown in the Fig. -14, or the recesses may be out directly into the leg wall as shown in the Fig. 15. The operation is the same in all cases as heretofore described.

Fig. 16 illustrates a single leg 9- installed within a table top l-, one at each corner, instead of the double type shown inthe former design. The single leg type istable, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding table adapted for playing parlor games, comprising a table top board having side bars rigidly attached along opposite edges thereof, said side bars being projected beyond the top board edges at each end thereof, pairs of support legs mounted between the respective pairs of projected side bar ends and attached thereto by pin and slot means, capable of rotation about one pair of support pins to various positions with the table top and to rigidly lock said legs therewith when at a position at right angles thereto by a lateral displacement of the pin members within their respective slot plate recesses.

2. A folding table adapted for playing parlor games, comprising a fiat table top board having side bars mounted on opposite sides thereof positioned at right angles thereto, said side bars being projected beyond the board edges at both ends thereof, an attaching plate with slotted recesses formed therein fixedly mounted on the inner faces of said side bars at the projected ends thereof, pairs of rigidly connected support legs mounted between said side bar attaching plates, said pairs of legs having pairs of pin attaching members mounted thereon positioned to engage the respective slotted recesses of the attaching plates and capable of allowing rotation of said pairs of support legs about one set of support pins to various positions with the table top and to lock rigidly therewith when the pairs of support legs are at right angles with said table top by a lateral displacement of said leg pins within the attaching plate slots.

3. A folding table adapted for playing parlor games, comprising a rigid table top board having side bars fixedly mounted along opposite sides thereof and positioned at right angles thereto and projected above the top board surface, said side bars having their ends projected beyond the top board edges at both ends thereof, an attaching plate fixedly attached to the inner faces of the projected side bar ends, said attachingplates being formed with two parallel recess slots therein positioned one above the other and with the lower slot being extended through the attaching plate edges, pairs of support legs rigidly attached together at the tops mounted between the said pairs of attaching plates, said legs having pairs of attaching pins mounted in the sides thereof and positioned to engage the respective recess slots of the attaching plates and slide therein, and capable of being rotated to various positions with the table top about the upper pairs of leg attaching pins and to be locked rigidly therein when the said pairs of legs are at a position at right angles thereto by causing a slight displacement of said pairs of legs and attaching pins along the attaching plate recess slots.

In witness whereof I sign this specification.

EDWARD A. CLARK. 

